An emphasis on investment remains at BlueCo’s Chelsea, but several learning curves have been passed and there’s a feeling that things are not so scattergun anymore.

With Enzo Maresca’s side preparing to take on the Paris Saint-Germain super-team in the Club World Cup final, the club will be permitted to take only the briefest sojourn before a reduced pre-season commences ahead of 2025/26.

There has already been a deluge of new arrivals for the west Londoners, who secured their place back in the Champions League and won the Conference League across Maresca’s first season at the helm.

Liam Delap and Joao Pedro have been poached from domestic rivals, while Jamie Gittens, 20, has finally completed his £51.5m transfer from Borussia Dortmund, having been hailed by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best left winger in 2024/25” before he plateaued over the closing months of the term.

The talented Estevao, Kendry Paez and Dario Essugo are all bound for Stamford Bridge too, but Chelsea still have a few more tricks up their sleeve.

The latest on Chelsea's summer transfer window

Noni Madueke has been granted permission to engage in the personal technicalities of his proposed transfer to Arsenal, with the Gunners having seen a £52m offer accepted.

The right winger is a talented player but hardly indispensable. And he’s not the only one the Blues are willing to offload in order to reshape in a superior fashion. Indeed, Nicolas Jackson may be sold, with Todd Boehly reportedly pricing the Senegalese striker at an eye-watering £100m amid interest from AC Milan.

Elsewhere, Chelsea have been mooted to make their move for Aston Villa’s dynamic attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, something which Madueke’s departure would facilitate.

But Maresca seemingly wants some more competition out on the left, too, with Mykhaylo Mudryk in interminable purgatory and the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix all likely to leave this summer.

And that’s why Chelsea could make an approach for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, who, aged 28, is settled as one of the most underrated wingers in the Premier League.

That’s according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, who has confirmed that Chelsea (and Arsenal) have considered making a move to sign the Japan international this summer.

Bayern Munich and Saudi Arabian suitors are also looking to get a deal done, and while there’s a sense that Mitoma’s entourage are drumming up interest to get a bumper new contract at the AMEX, the door is ajar for a summer switch, though Brighton would certainly need to lower their £80m asking price.

Why Chelsea want to sign Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma joined Brighton from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale and was instantly loaned out to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian Pro League, something which proved instrumental for his development as he polished his physical properties before being unleashed in the Premier League.

Now, he’s a seasoned veteran, having completed 108 appearances for the Seagulls across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and assisting 20 more.

His 37-goal involvement return in the Premier League, across 88 matches, is also nothing to be sniffed at. Mitoma isn’t the most prolific player, but he is immensely talented and endowed with the pace and intelligence to make a real difference.

In fact, the 28-year-old ranked among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last term for non-penalty goals and the top 12% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, which highlights the impact he could have in Chelsea’s first team.

Is there any proof that Gittens, so young and untested, could bring such an instant effect to Maresca’s squad? Indeed, cast your mind back to Jadon Sancho’s days at Dortmund, and you will find all the substance needed to form such a compelling argument.

Matches (starts)

36 (28)

32 (21)

Goals

10

8

Assists

4

3

Shots (on target)*

1.6 (0.8)

1.6 (0.8)

Big chances missed

12

4

Pass completion

81%

82%

Big chances created

8

6

Key passes*

1.0

0.7

Dribbles*

1.4

2.4

Ball recoveries*

2.8

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.3

Duels won*

4.1

4.9

While Gittens is maybe a bit more active in the duel, and certainly has the makings of a clinical wideman, Mitoma is more complete in his performances, with BBC pundit Shay Given even claiming he’s “at the heart of everything positive” Brighton do in the Premier League.

There is also the pretty significant factor that Mitoma plies his trade in the Premier League, whereas Gittens has been cutting his teeth these past few years in the Bundesliga, a division of ostensibly lower quality.

The aforementioned Bailey has regarded Mitoma as “one of the Premier League’s best”, and it’s clear to see why. Though consistency might not be the Japanese’s strong suit, he has shown quality on England’s biggest stage that most wingers could only dream of, and even then, such ambitions would be hazy, ill-defined things.

While Gittens has the makings of something special, Chelsea would be wise to ease him into a position of seniority at Stamford Bridge. Signing Mitoma and allowing the pair to jockey for starting roles could prove a move that bears dividends for the success of Maresca’s project.

Chelsea will be raising the bar in the months to come. European nights will be freighted with the added expectation and intensity that the Champions League theatre brings. Mitoma is exactly the kind of player who could help the club tackle this issue and come up with a solution.

Bad news for Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea open first talks to sign £43m "animal"

Enzo Maresca is looking to sign a Spanish midfielder this summer

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 13, 2025

The wait for a new centre-forward continues to drag on, but Arsenal’s summer transfer activity is now in full swing, with Brentford’s Christian Norgaard all but confirmed to be the next addition of the Mikel Arteta regime.

This shock, swift deal for the 31-year-old Dane – which will likely cost in the region of £15m, including add-ons – has come as a bolt from the blue, in truth, with the Gunners targeting a Premier League proven replacement for the departed Jorginho, alongside the reportedly departing Thomas Partey.

At a time when supporters are almost begging for new reinforcements to pep up the forward line, the arrival of the defensive midfielder is not exactly the most glamorous or exciting of moves. That said, increasing the strength in depth in the centre of the pitch is nothing to be sniffed at.

Indeed, the north London side have seemingly already bolstered their midfield ranks with the capture of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, with the Euro 2024 winner set to move to the Emirates as a matter of when and not if.

Formerly a leading target for Liverpool, before turning down the Reds, the 26-year-old has been the centre of a drawn-out saga across the last 12 months or so, with it yet to be seen if the Spaniard will indeed live up to the billing.

The hope will be that those moves are just the start of a hectic window for Arteta and co, with even more eye-catching deals reportedly being lined up.

Latest on Arsenal's search for a new defender

An already impressive defensive unit – which shipped just 34 Premier League goals last season – could be strengthened even further over the coming months, if Arteta gets his way, with a handful of standout targets having already emerged.

Recent speculation has indicated that the Gunners could well be in the mix for Crystal Palace and England star, Marc Guehi, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the ex-Chelsea man – who has just 12 months remaining on his existing deal – would be willing to battle it out with Gabriel and William Saliba for a starting berth.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, Arteta’s love of a versatile asset could see Arsenal’s interest in a certain Jorrel Hato be ramped up in the near future, with journalist Graeme Bailey providing the latest on their pursuit of the Ajax starlet.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The transfer insider has outlined that while it is Chelsea who are “pushing hard” to sign the teenage Dutchman, it is those at the Emirates who are quietly confident of striking a deal instead for what is a long-term target:

“Arsenal see Hato as the perfect addition to the left side of their defence, but obviously it’s far from a done deal. We know that Chelsea are pushing hard to sign Hato and Liverpool still really like him. But I think Arsenal would be annoyed if they didn’t get Hato considering how much work they’ve been putting in.

“Arsenal have been chasing Hato since he was around 14 or 15 years old, so I think there is a bit of confidence there. They want to sell Zinchenko to make room for Hato and then we still expect Kiwior to go as well. There will be plenty of room in that squad for Hato who is able to play a variety of roles.”

Reportedly valued at around £40m, amid such mounting interest, the 19-year-old would represent a truly standout capture for the north Londoners this summer.

Why Hato could be a bigger coup than Zubimendi

In the case of Zubimendi, the impending £51m arrival will certainly add touch of silk and steel to Arsenal’s midfield ranks, having notably ranked in the top 19% of LaLiga midfielders in 2024/25 for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref, as well is in the top 14% for interceptions per 90. In essence, he is an effective performer both in and out of possession.

That was evident during Spain’s Nations League final defeat to Portugal, in particular, having notably opened the scoring in that 2-2 draw, while also producing a stunning surging run from deep at one stage to tee up Isco.

More than a safe and steady number six then, the Basque sensation will be a real asset over the coming years in the capital, with excitement brewing over the partnership he can strike up with Declan Rice next season.

For all that positivity, any deal for the aforementioned Hato would surely eclipse that move, with it likely to represent a truly sizeable coup if Arsenal can beat Chelsea to the signing of a player with “immense quality”, as per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As Kulig also noted, the flexible defender – who can operate at centre-back or left-back – has already racked up over 100 appearances (111) for Ajax despite having yet to turn 20. For comparison, Zubimendi didn’t make his LaLiga debut until he had already turned 20.

Equally too, Hato has already matched Zubimendi’s tally of nine assists at senior level to date, despite making 125 fewer appearances for his current side.

Described by Kulig as “one of the most exciting left-footed centre-backs in world football”, the teenage titan notably enjoyed a particularly impressive 2024/25 campaign, having registered two goals and six assists in the Eredivisie from his defensive berth.

Games (starts)

31 (30)

36 (33)

Goals

2

2

Assists

6

1

Big chances created

6

1

Key passes*

0.6

0.5

Pass accuracy*

90%

84%

Tackles*

1.9

2.0

Interceptions*

0.7

1.2

Dribbled past*

0.3

0.4

Possession lost*

8.3

10.0

Again, for comparison, Zubimendi – despite operating slightly further forward than his young counterpart – chipped in with just two goals and one assist, with the La Roja star also falling behind with regard to pass completion, big chances created and key passes.

Yes, the difference in quality between the two leagues is certainly a factor – with Spain’s top-flight deemed to be the fourth-best in the world – yet it can’t be overlooked just what Hato is able to offer, even when operating in the backline.

With the potential for the Netherlands U21 international to be a fixture of Arsenal’s defence for a decade or so too, considering his age, this is certainly a deal worth pursuing.

Priorities, in the eyes of supporters, may lie elsewhere, but if the Gunners want to committ to enjoying long-term success, than a figure like Hato could be just the solution.

He'd be better than Norgaard: Arsenal hold talks to sign £20m midfielder

The exciting midfielder could be a future star for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 25, 2025

Brendon McCullum has been announced as England’s new men’s white-ball head coach, and will combine that role with his existing Test duties. McCullum has agreed a remarkable new three-year deal as part of what the ECB has termed a “strategic restructure” within the men’s set-up.The contract extension, announced on Tuesday, means that McCullum is set to oversee England’s white-ball fortunes, up to and including the next 50-over World Cup in South Africa in October-November 2027, while also guiding the Test squad all the way through to England’s next home Ashes campaign, earlier that same year.Marcus Trescothick, England’s interim head coach for the upcoming series against Australia, will continue in that role for the white-ball tour of the Caribbean in November, with McCullum officially beginning his twin tenure in January 2025, in time for their white-ball tour of India, and the ICC Champions Trophy which is set to take place in Pakistan in February and March.The deal comes in the wake of Matthew Mott’s sacking as white-ball head coach in July, following England’s disappointing defences of both their 50- and 20-over World Cup titles. It is a significant coup for the ECB, and their director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, given the apparent reluctance of a host of major names to put their names forward for the role.Related

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Ricky Ponting and Eoin Morgan, England’s 2019 World Cup-winning captain, were among the prime candidates to officially rule themselves out of contention, while Andy Flower’s status as one of the most sought-after franchise coaches in the world game meant there was little prospect of him returning to the ECB, a decade after his last stint as England head coach ended in 2014.McCullum himself had shown little interest in the white-ball role when he took over as England’s Test coach in May 2022. However, amid the subsequent success of his Test tenure, in particular the so-called ‘Bazball’ mentality that helped to liberate the team’s attitude to success and failure, he has now agreed to carry that ethos across to a white-ball set-up, captained by Jos Buttler, that is set to undergo a generational shift over the course of the coming international cycle.”I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Test team, and I’m excited to extend my role to include the white-ball sides,” McCullum said. “This new challenge is something I’m ready to embrace, and I’m eager to work closely with Jos and the team to build on the strong foundations that are already in place.”In so doing, McCullum will become the first England men’s coach since his Test predecessor, Chris Silverwood, to oversee both the red- and white-ball squads. And while the sheer volume of matches in England’s recent schedule has meant that a united role has been nigh on impossible – their T20I series against Australia, for instance, begins one day after the end of the forthcoming third Test against Sri Lanka – Key pointed to a relative “easing” in the fixture list from 2025 onwards that has made McCullum’s appointment more feasible.”I’m delighted that Brendon has chosen to do both roles now with England,” Key said. “I believe we are incredibly fortunate that a coach of his quality is prepared to commit wholeheartedly to English cricket. Being able to align all teams now is particularly exciting and we look forward to taking on all challenges that come our way.”For the last two years, constant clashes between formats have made it challenging for the white-ball environment; fortunately, these are easing starting from January. The timing of the schedule [from January] will allow him to dedicate the necessary focus to both roles, and we’re confident this restructure will bring out the best in our players and coaching staff.”McCullum added: “Rob Key’s vision for the future of English cricket is something that really resonated with me. The idea of a unified coaching structure, especially with the schedule easing next year, made perfect sense. I’m energised by the prospect of guiding both teams and am grateful for the support from the ECB and my family as I take on these added responsibilities.”Rob Key believes an eased schedule from 2025 will help McCullum•Getty Images

The prospect of a unified vision for England’s squads may be particularly beneficial to Test incumbents such as Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson, young players who have significant futures across both set-ups, but whose opportunities to transfer their talents across formats will be restricted this winter by the cramped nature of the schedule, with England’s white-ball tour of the Caribbean falling directly between their three-Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.Similarly, younger players – such as Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley and Josh Hull, who are likely to make their international debuts in the coming white-ball series against Australia and will be prime candidates for the West Indies tour – ought to be better placed to make their cases for Test honours with McCullum now overseeing their full international development.”The talent within English cricket is immense, and I’m looking forward to helping these players reach their full potential,” McCullum added. “My goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and where we can continue to compete at the highest level across all formats.”McCullum is due to leave England immediately after the conclusion of the Sri Lanka series at The Kia Oval this week, and will return to New Zealand for a short break before rejoining the Test squad ahead of the Pakistan tour in October.

Charlotte Edwards Cup, Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy replaced as competitions align more closely with men’s county set-up

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2024

England’s top women’s teams will play in their own version of the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One-Day Cup from next season, aligning the new domestic competitions more closely with those of their male counterparts.The competitions will replace the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, which had been the women’s T20 and 50-over contests since 2020. Teams in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition will still compete to lift the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.The possibility of matching competitions with the potential to play some fixtures as double-headers featuring men’s and women’s teams from the same clubs has been mooted since the ECB announced an overhaul of the domestic women’s structure in February. That was confirmed on Thursday with the announcement that T20 sponsor Vitality and Metro Bank, which currently sponsors the men’s 50-over competition, would further their investment in the women’s game.As with the Men’s Blast, the women’s competition will culminate in a Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day, while the men’s and women’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup competitions will each have two semi-finals and a final.Related

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In the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, the eight women’s teams will compete as Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and The Blaze, representing Nottinghamshire – who along with the other seven teams were awarded Tier 1 status under the new structure – and surrounds.The eight women’s Blast teams will be Birmingham Bears (representing Warwickshire), Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire Thunder, Somerset, Surrey and The Blaze.The top-flight women’s competitions are set to expand to include Yorkshire from 2026 and Welsh county Glamorgan from 2027.A knockout cup competition consisting of teams from all three tiers of the expanded women’s domestic structure will also form part of the 2025 schedule with the aim of giving all counties a chance to compete against each other and players across the pyramid the opportunity to test their skills against higher-ranked teams.In 2025, Tier 2 will comprise Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.Beth Barrett-Wild, ECB director of the women’s professional game, said: “A big driver for the reorganisation of women’s professional cricket has been to enable us to better use the leverage and existing scale of men’s county cricket to accelerate fan base growth for our women’s teams and players. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, we’re therefore really excited to fully align our men’s and women’s domestic white-ball competitions for the first time.”As we have seen through the Hundred and alignment of our England Men’s and England Women’s teams, we believe that by putting our men’s and women’s competitions and players on the same platform we can exponentially increase the reach of the women’s domestic game and intensify the depth of feeling fans have for our women’s teams moving forwards.”Under the new professional structure, £8m in new funding will be invested per year into women’s domestic cricket by 2027, taking annual investment in this area to about £19m, an injection of funds the ECB believes could produce an 80% increase in the number of professional female players in England and Wales by 2029. Counties will be responsible for deciding player salaries.

تحدث عماد النحاس المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن تعادل الفريق أمام إنبي بهدف لمثله، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى الأهلي مع إنبي على استاد المقاولون العرب، ضمن لقاءات الجولة السادسة من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري.

وقال عماد النحاس في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي: “في مثل هذه المواقف الإنسان لا يعرف ماذا يقول، كنا نلعب على الفوز منذ بداية اللقاء، ركلة الجزاء التي تم احتسابها ضدنا كان يوجد كرة لتريزيجيه كان ممكن أن تُحتسب مثلما تم احتساب الأولى”.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | الأهلي يواصل المعاناة ويكتفي بتعادل مخيب مع إنبي في الدوري

وتابع: “حدث توتر كبير في آخر المباراة ولم نستفد من التغييرات، لم يكن هناك تركيز، وأنا لم أخاطر بمشاركة زيزو، اللاعب أبلغنا أنه جاهز وسليم وهو ما أكد عليه اللاعب لذلك شارك”.

وأتم: “زيزو أبلغنا أنه يتحمل مسؤولية المشاركة وهذا متاح في الكرة”.

Everton are building for the new campaign under David Moyes and have revived their interest in an experienced midfielder who could be available on the cheap this summer, according to a report.

Everton encounter confusion in Kenny Tete pursuit

Over the last few days, Everton appeared to be closing in on Fulham right-back Kenny Tete after talks were said to have progressed on a free transfer deal that would see the Dutchman pitch up at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

However, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Fulham have now submitted a fresh contract offer to Tete as his present terms at Craven Cottage come to an end, with a final decision on his future expected in the next few days.

He explained: “Fulham have sent today new improved contract proposal to Kenny Tete after he verbally agreed to join Everton earlier this week. Both Fulham and Everton have proposals on the table now for the right back who’s available as free agent. Final decision soon.”

Despite a deal looking signed and sealed, there may be more work to do for the Toffees on the market following recent developments, though David Moyes is seemingly wasting no time in his mission to strengthen.

Villarreal forward Thierno Barry could join Everton following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure, but they will seek to negotiate at a figure below his current £40 million release clause.

Dream Gueye replacement: Moyes pushing Everton to sign £17m "big game" star

Everton may need a replacement for Idrissa Gueye.

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 24, 2025

Plenty of bodies have gone out the door at Finch Farm and there is a need for strength in depth as the Toffees enter a new era under Moyes.

Now, Everton fans could have something to shout about after the Tete debacle amid news that their side have revived their interest in a proven Premier League midfielder.

Everton could sign Wilfred Ndidi for a bargain price

According to talkSPORT, Everton have revived their interest in Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and could land the Nigeria international for £9 million due to a release clause in his contract that is now active after the Foxes’ relegation.

Manchester United are also attentive to his situation, while Saudi Pro League clubs linger in the background, ready to offer the 28-year-old an escape route from the King Power Stadium.

Labelled “brilliant” by James Maddison, Ndidi registered one goal and five assists in 30 appearances across all competitions last campaign, though he couldn’t help his side escape relegation under Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s stewardship.

Possessing a high level of pedigree, the former KRC Genk man has won 65 caps at international level for Nigeria and would be an ideal replacement for Orel Mangala following the latter’s departure.

Nevertheless, competition is fierce for his signature, meaning Everton will need to act quick on the market to ensure he is wearing a different shade of blue next season.

“When you have a mega auction you are bound to have a reset. But you try and maintain as much of the core as possible,” Sanjiv Goenka says

Sreshth Shah28-Aug-2024Sanjiv Goenka, the Lucknow Super Giants owner, did not give much away about his team’s retention plans and captain KL Rahul’s future with the franchise, but admitted that the upcoming mega auction will mean the team “resets” in some aspects ahead of IPL 2025.Speaking to the media in Kolkata alongside newly unveiled mentor Zaheer Khan, Goenka said LSG’s retention decisions will not be made with a short-term view.”All decisions are medium-term and need to be thought of carefully,” he said. “When you have a mega auction you are bound to have a reset. But you try and maintain as much of the core as possible. The coach Justin Langer continues, [support staff] Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes will also be there. So it is a question of improving and going further from where you are now.”Rahul, the LSG captain since the team’s first IPL in 2022, was in Kolkata this week and met Goenka. Goenka did not get into the details of their conversation, but called Rahul “family”.”I have been meeting KL on and off regularly over the last three years,” Goenka said. “Frankly I am surprised this meeting is getting a lot of attention [in the media]. He is integral [to LSG]. He has been here since the inception. For me personally and for [my son] Shashwat [Goenka, who is also involved in running LSG], he is like family.”After two playoff appearances in IPL 2022 and 2023, LSG missed the playoffs for the first time in the 2024 season, finishing seventh on the table because of a poor net run rate. It was the first time the franchise did not have the services of mentor Gautam Gambhir, who had moved to Kolkata Knight Riders. In the coming season, Goenka believes Zaheer’s presence “will do wonders” for the team.”Beginning of a new relationship. Zaheer has impressed me as a player, coach and strategist,” Goenka said. “His hunger for success is something that attracted me to bring him into the LSG franchise.Zaheer Khan was formally named Lucknow Super Giants’ mentor on Wednesday•Sreshth Shah/ESPNcricinfo”A couple of weeks ago, I realised he wasn’t with any cricket franchise. I called him up. We spoke. He agreed. And he’s here. It’s as short and as quick as it gets. We are very excited to have him on board.”Zaheer, who had been associated with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 as director of cricket and head of global development, said he will serve in a similar role at LSG. He said he was particularly impressed with the “building blocks” put together by a “young franchise in only three years”, and felt that he shared the owners’ vision.”Yes it happened exactly in the same words how Mr Goenka explained. We got on a call and realised we have a similar stance on many topics about cricket,” Zaheer said. “We discussed the direction, the culture, the brand the team wants to play. The building blocks are already in place. It’s a relatively young franchise but it doesn’t seem like that. Reaching playoffs in this fiercely competitive league isn’t easy and [seeing their progress] gives me confidence.””It is a team game, so I will be serving the team in every capacity possible, and yes, it includes bowling. If I am there in the set-up, does the team need another bowling coach?” he said with a smile. “When you see LSG, their journey is only three years but they are as comparable to the teams who have played the IPL for 17-18 years. The building blocks are in place and we need to take them forward. Decision-making will be something we’ll work on, since it is something that can differentiate teams.”As it stands, LSG’s roster includes Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Quinton de Kock, Naveen-ul-Haq and Devdutt Padikkal, among others. The teams are expected to know the IPL’s retention rules in early September, after which they will decide on whom to retain, possibly with a late-November deadline, before the mega auction leading into IPL 2025.

Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season

Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.

However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.

The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.

"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need

Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”

As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.

Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.28 (96th percentile)

Assists

0.17 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.98 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.10 (93rd percentile)

Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.

The Bangladesh senior men’s team is set to arrive in Lahore on August 13, four days before their scheduled arrival, for a two-Test series. The team will train for three days each at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium before the first Test in Rawalpindi from August 21.The players’ preparations had been disrupted as a result of the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh. The overseas coaching staff of the team also couldn’t join the players at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka last week because of security concerns. BCB is currently following up with the coaches’ respective embassies for security clearances.The departure ahead of schedule came after an invitation from the PCB to the BCB to ensure the visiting players have “adequate and fair training opportunities” ahead of the Tests.Related

• Mushfiqur, Taskin back in Bangladesh Test squad for Pakistan series

• BCB set to meet new sports head as calls for reform grow louder

• Naseem back in Test squad, Shakeel named vice-captain for Bangladesh series

• Bangladesh in turmoil: how will cricket be impacted?

“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about [camaraderie],” Salman Naseer, PCB chief operating officer, said in a statement. “I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage.”The Bangladesh players have been training individually at the Shere Bangla under coach Shohel Islam for the last three days.”We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said in a statement. “This will certainly help the players to [acclimatise] to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.”Bangladesh’s Test cricketers had a training camp in Chattogram that was disrupted because of the anti-government protests across the country last month. There have been political rallies inside the Shere Bangla premises, too.The BCB ended up managing to send the high-performance team to Australia, and the Bangladesh A team to Pakistan. The latter’s departure was delayed by a few days, and the team reached Islamabad on Saturday. Bangladesh A will play two four-day matches and three one-day matches in Pakistan, which will run alongside the senior team’s Test matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi. The Bangladesh squad for the Tests is expected to be announced on Sunday.

Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.

It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.

That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?

Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder

The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.

The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.

He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.

Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado

Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.

Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.

Accurate passes per game

53

Goals

1

Assists

3

Total duels won per game

4

Big chances created

3

Tackles per game

1.9

Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.

With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.

A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.

Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.

Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.

If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.

For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.

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